This week both Team Brown and Team Shuster are in Europe, continuing on their Road to Sochi, but on different paths. While the ladies are in Glasgow, Scotland to visit me and do some curling while they're here, Shuster and the gang are in Füssen, Germany competing in the inaugural Olympic Qualifying Event. 

The OQE features eight teams competing for the last two spots in the 10 team field of the Olympics. The other eight spots have been filled by the to top seven teams, based on the past few World Championships and Russia, as the host nation. The USA finished eighth.

Ranking-wise, USA is consider as the top team in this field by virtue of being the first team left out of the Olympics, and now they just need to finish top two. However, there is some tough competition at this bonspiel and Shuster will need to be at the top of his game, and take advantage of whatever opportunities are given him. Considering this is almost the "B Pool" of the worlds, there should be plenty of chances for big ends, which Shuster lives and dies on. It will be interesting.

Here's the field:

United States

Fourth/Skip: John SHUSTER, Third: Jeff ISAACSON, Second: Jared ZEZEL, Lead: John LANDSTEINER Alternate: Craig BROWN, Team Coach: Tim MULLER, Photo L-R: Skip/3/2/L

After a strong showing in Fargo which saw them down Pete Fenson in a two and a half game final, they was ousted in the semis at the Duluth Cashspiel over Thanksgiving weekend (by the eventual winner skipped by Craig). This is Shuster's to win or lose.

Czech Republic

Fourth/Skip: Jiri Snítil, Third: Martin Snítil, Second: Jindřich Kitzberger, Lead: Marek Vydra Alternate: Jakub Bareš, Coach: Sune Frederiksen Photo L-R: A/L/2/3/Skip

Despite Tuck's insistence, Czechoslovakia is not in this tournament (nor is it a country anymore), but the Czech Republic is. This team finished a game ahead of the USA team skipped by Brady Clark at last year's world championships by virtue of 9-8 win with a record of 6-5. This was also the team that finished the European Championships in seventh place at 3-6. Apparently skip Jiri Snitil was sick and sat out a few games. So, is he back to 100% for Germany? Was the world's last year a fluke? How much does he look like Christoph Waltz? These are all questions that will be answered this week.

Germany

Fourth: Felix Schulze, Third/Skip: John Jahr, Second: Christopher Bartsch, Lead: Sven Goldemann Alternate: Peter Rickmers, Coach: Martin Beiser, Photo L-R: Skip/4/2/L/A

This team was relegated to the B group of the European Championships this year, which they won. Then they beat Latvia in a best of 3 to make take the last European spot at the 2014 World Championships. This isn't your dad's Andy Kapp led German team, so they're a bit of a mystery for us Americans. The fact they're on a bit of a hot streak doesn't bode well. They could be a bit of a dark horse.

Finland

Fourth/Skip: Aku Kauste, Third: Jani Sullanmaam Second: Pauli Jäämiesm Lead: Janne Pitko Alternate: Leo Mäkelä, Coach: Wille Mäkelä, Photo L-R: Skip/3/2/L/A

Not a dark horse? Finland. This team finished last at the worlds last year, and did not represent Finland at the ECC this year. Finland at the ECC finished last, at 1-8. So what I'm saying is a last place finish is now referred to as a Finnish medal. All that said, they're perfectly capable of playing spoiler, so look for them to have beaten a team that qualifies.

France

Fourth: Tony Angiboust, Third/Skip: Thomas Dufour, Second: Wilfrid Coulot, Lead: Jérémy Frarier Alternate: Romain Borini, Coach: Yannick Renggli, Photo L-R: 4/Skip/2/L

This Thomas Dufour rink should be familiar, as they are one of the two teams USA beat at last Olympics. This seemed to be France's only curling team, but then they lost Joffrey Vincent for the spot at Europeans, who then shit the bed and dropped France to the B group with a 1-8 record. Basically, thanks for showing up, France.

New Zealand

Fourth/Skip: Peter de Boer, Third: Sean Becker, Second: Scott Becker, Lead: Kenny Thomson Alternate: Philip Dowling, Coach: Peter Becker, Photo L-R: Skip/3/2/L/A

Another dark horse team, this rink features a couple of Scotsmen and finished fourth at the Pacific Championships this year. Though they nearly had a Finnish medal at September's China Open when they played against some of the second best teams in Europe. Their winter is over, are their chances for an Olympic berth over as well?

Korea

Fourth/Skip: Soo-Hyuk Kim, Third: Tae-Hwan Kim, Second: Jong-Duk Park, Lead: Yoon-Ho Nam Alternate: Ye-Jun Lee, Coach: Se-Young Yang, Photo L-R: Skip/3/2/L/A

They finished in third at the Pacific Championships by beating New Zealand in the bronze match. NZ had a better record, but Korea won when it mattered. They're also the host nation for the 2018 Olympics, so they'll get an automatic bid. Which usually means money is being poured into the program to ensure a competitive team. Will that make this team competitive enough this time around? Probably not.

Japan 

Fourth/Skip: Yusuke Morozumi, Third: Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Second: Tetsuro Shimizu, Lead: Kosuke Morozumi Alternate: Shinya Abe, Coach: Hatomi Nagaoka, Photo L-R: Skip/3/2/L

Finished with a silver in the Pacifics after losing the final to China, despite having a better record. They finished second to last at the World's last year, including beating Brady Clark. Regardless, you'll see a lot of them this week if you tune into the feed. Predictions: The top three teams make it to the playoffs in a stunted page playoff system. Teams 1 and 2 play each other with the winner advancing onto the playoffs. The loser then plays Team 3 for the last Olympic spot. So if the USA can finish top two, they'll just need to win one more game to make it to the Olympics. I'm going to be a total homer and predict the USA gets one of the two spots. Finishing 2nd out of the bottom 8 of the world? Totally doable. When I look at this field, seems about right for the United States, but I do think they're at the top after seeing Shuster last month in Fargo and some of these other teams at the ECC. Like I said, it's Shuster's to win or lose. So hopefully we see more of the first half of his first game against Pete Fenson in the Trials finals, and less of ends 8-10. I think the other spot is going to go to streaky Germany, using their home ice advantage. They'll finish either 2 or three with the Czechs, and beat them in the second qualification match. Sorry, Jiri. Schedule: The World Curling Federation will be streaming games via their YouTube channel. Unfortunately, it'll be mostly Japan and China matches since those countries will be airing the matches on television. So, Mark down 10:00 a.m. PST on Friday, December 12th as the sole USA game being streamed. Tune in otherwise for updates and the chance they'll swap over to a USA game. The full schedule is here. Team USA takes the ice today at 7:00 am PST. The webstream schedule is here. Be sure to follow Terry Kolesar for updates throughout the week!